Interior rearview mirror system

ABSTRACT

An interior rearview mirror system of a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having an electro-optic reflective element. The reflective element includes (i) an electro-optic active region where an electro-optic medium is disposed and is bounded by a perimeter seal and (ii) a user input region outboard of the electro-optic active region. At least one backlit user input, such as a capacitive touch sensor, is disposed at the reflective element at the user input region and outboard of the perimeter seal and the electro-optic medium. A control is operable to determine a location of a touch or proximity of a finger of a user that is at or near the first surface of the front substrate at the user input region, and the control generates an output signal indicative of a determined touch or proximity of a finger of a user.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/414,190, filed Mar. 30, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,154,418,which claims benefit of U.S. provisional applications Ser. No.61/040,902, filed Mar. 31, 2008; Ser. No. 61/048,687, filed Apr. 29,2008; Ser. No. 61/050,810, filed May 6, 2008; Ser. No. 61/098,431, filedSep. 19, 2008; and Ser. No. 61/112,436, filed Nov. 7, 2008, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to interior rearview mirror systems ofvehicles.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a video display at an interior rearview mirrorassembly of a vehicle. Examples of such mirror assemblies and displaysare described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268; 7,184,190; 7,274,501;7,370,983; and/or 7,446,650, which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an interior rearview mirror system for avehicle. The mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assemblyand (a) a video display for displaying video images in response to anoutput of a rearward facing camera, (b) an indicator responsive to adetection of an object rearward of the vehicle and responsive to adistance and/or location of the detected object, and (c) a microphone.Optionally, the display module or device may be disposed at the rear ofa prismatic substrate or at the rear of a front substrate of anelectro-optic reflective element.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a mirror system of avehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having areflective element and an information input display or keypad display(such as an alphanumeric keypad display) providing a displayrepresentative of a plurality of input characters. The information inputdisplay or keypad display is disposed behind the reflective element andviewable through the reflective element when the keypad display isbacklit by a backlighting device. The reflective element comprises atransflective reflective element having a transflective mirror reflectorthat is partially reflecting of light incident thereon and partiallytransmitting of light therethrough. The keypad display is substantiallynot viewable or discernible to a person viewing the mirror assembly whenthe mirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle and when the keypaddisplay is not backlit by the backlighting device. The reflectiveelement comprises a touch screen function at the keypad display, and acontrol of the mirror system is operable to determine a location of atouch or proximity of an object at the reflective element and correlatethe determined location to an input character of the keypad display.

The mirror system may include a video display for displaying videoimages, such as in response to an output of a rearward facing camera orother image capturing device of the vehicle. The keypad display isdisposed at a main viewing region of the reflective element so as toprovide a keypad display that is larger than the video display.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an interior rearview mirror and display of aninterior rearview mirror system in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a voice recorder system of the interiorrearview mirror system;

FIG. 3 is a schematic of a video mirror system of the interior rearviewmirror system;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another interior rearview mirror and display ofan interior rearview mirror system in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another interior rearview mirror and display ofan interior rearview mirror system in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another interior rearview mirror and display ofan interior rearview mirror system in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another interior rearview mirror and display ofan interior rearview mirror system in accordance with the presentinvention, including schematics of rearward views captured by a rearwardfacing camera of the vehicle;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of another interior rearview mirror and display ofan interior rearview mirror system in accordance with the presentinvention, with the mirror having multiple displays and showing thedisplays displaying trip and compass/temperature information;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the interior rearview mirror and display ofFIG. 8, showing the center display displaying an image of the arearearward of the vehicle, which may be displayed in response to thedriver of the vehicle selecting a reverse gear of the vehicle;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the interior rearview mirror and display ofFIGS. 8 and 9, showing the left display displaying the area to the leftof the vehicle (such as captured by a camera having a generally sidewardand rearward field of view at the left side of the vehicle), such as inresponse to the left hand turn signal being activated, and showing theright display displaying the area to the right of the vehicle (such ascaptured by a camera having a generally sideward and rearward field ofview at the right side of the vehicle), such as in response to the righthand turn signal being activated;

FIG. 11 is a schematic of the mirror system of FIGS. 8-10;

FIG. 12 is sectional view of another rearview mirror and displayassembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a roll of films or sheets that areconfigured to be adhered to the substrate of the mirror assembly toprovide a window for the display;

FIGS. 14A-D are views of the roll of films or sheets of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of another rearview mirror and display inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the rearview mirror and display of FIG.15;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of another rearview mirror assembly in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of another rearview mirror anddisplay assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a side elevation of a vehicle incorporating a mirror systemof the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic of a mirror system of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is another schematic of a mirror system of the presentinvention;

FIG. 22 is another schematic of a minor system of the present invention;

FIGS. 23A-J are views of other rearview mirrors and displays inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a schematic of a touch screen of another mirror system inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a plan view of another mirror system in accordance with thepresent invention, with the interior rearview mirror assembly providinga touch screen at the reflective element;

FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the mirror system of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a schematic of another mirror assembly in accordance with thepresent invention, with the mirror assembly providing a touch screen atthe reflective element;

FIG. 27A is a schematic showing how the mirror assembly of FIG. 27functions to detect a touch at a front surface of the reflectiveelement;

FIG. 28 is a schematic of another mirror assembly in accordance with thepresent invention, with the mirror assembly providing a touch screen atthe reflective element;

FIG. 28A is a schematic showing how the mirror assembly of FIG. 28functions to detect a touch at a front surface of the reflectiveelement;

FIG. 29 is a plan view of another mirror assembly in accordance with thepresent invention, with a plurality of touch or proximity sensorsestablished at a bezel portion of the mirror assembly;

FIG. 30 is a plan view of a mirror assembly similar to FIG. 29, shownwith touch or proximity sensors at the bezel portion of the mirrorassembly for controlling a radio of the vehicle;

FIG. 31 is a schematic of a touch sensor or proximity sensor systemsuitable for use with the mirror assemblies of the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of another rearview mirror and display inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 33 is another perspective view of the mirror and display of FIG.32, with the display activated to project display information at thefrit region of the windshield proximate the mirror assembly;

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the mirror and display of FIGS. 32 and33, showing the display element at the rear of the mirror assembly;

FIG. 35 is another perspective view of the mirror and display of FIGS.32-34, with the display activated to project backup display informationat the frit region of the windshield proximate the mirror assembly; and

FIG. 36 is another perspective view of the mirror and display of FIGS.32-35, with the display activated to project navigation displayinformation at the frit region of the windshield proximate the mirrorassembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, an interior rearview mirror system includes an interiorrearview mirror assembly having a video display and/or an LED display orindicator and/or a microphone (FIGS. 1-7). The video display may providea video image of a scene rearward of the vehicle, such as captured by arearward facing camera of the vehicle. The microphone may receive avocal input and the system may record the vocal input, such as forrecording memos or the like. The mirror system may play back the memosin response to a user input. The indicator may comprise an LED displayand may an alert responsive to a distance and location of an objectdetected rearward of the vehicle.

For example, and with reference to FIGS. 1-3, an interior rearviewmirror assembly 10 may include a reflective element 12, a video display14 and an LED display or indicator 16 and a microphone 18. The videodisplay 14 and LED display and indicators 16 may be disposed behind thereflective element 12 and may be viewable through the reflective elementwhen activated (and may be viewable through the mirror reflector whenactivated and substantially not viewable through the mirror reflectorwhen deactivated). The mirror assembly 10 may include one or more userinputs or buttons 20. For example, a video button may toggle throughvarious camera views provided by a rearward facing camera 21 and/orother cameras of the vehicle or associated with the mirror system.Optionally, a user input may be actuated to activate or control arecording device at or in or associated with the mirror assembly. Themicrophone 18 may be disposed at an upper portion of the mirror assembly(and optionally, for a mirror with a single microphone at an upperportion of the mirror casing at or towards a side of the mirrorassembly, a non-functional microphone grill or cover element 19 may beprovided at an upper portion of the mirror casing at or towards theother side of the mirror assembly to provide a uniform appearance to themirror assembly). The mirror assembly may include a speaker 22, whichmay be disposed in the housing of the mirror assembly.

The mirror system or assembly may provide a recording device or systemfor recording memos or messages or the like in response to the driver oroperator activating a user input. For example, the operator may actuatea button to activate a recording device (that receives signals capturedby the microphone) to record a message. Optionally, the system may havea “one button-one memo” function that is operable as follows:

To record a memo (Option 1):

-   -   Press and hold “Memo” button until beep is heard (approximately        1 second).    -   Speak the memo to be recorded while holding the “Memo” button.    -   Release “Memo” button. Mirror will beep twice to confirm        recording.

To record a memo (Option 2):

-   -   Press and hold “Memo” button until beep is heard (approximately        1 second).    -   Release the “Memo” button and speak memo to be recorded.    -   Press “Memo” button again. Mirror will beep twice to confirm        recording.

To play back the memo:

-   -   Press “Memo” and release within 1 second.    -   Mirror will play back memo.    -   Mirror will beep once to indicate end of memo.    -   To stop the playback of a memo, press the “Memo” button and        release.

To erase the memo (Option 1):

-   -   Press and hold “Memo” button until beep is heard (approx 1        second).    -   Immediately release “Memo” button without speaking.    -   Mirror will beep twice to confirm erase.

Optionally, a mirror assembly 10′ (FIG. 4) may include a two buttonrecord and play function (with a first user input or button 20 a′ foractivating a record feature and a second user input or button 20 b′ foractivating a playback feature). For example, such a system may beoperable as follows:

To select memo to be recorded:

-   -   Press “Rec” button and release within one second.    -   Mirror will beep once for Memo #1, twice for Memo #2, and three        times for Memo #3 (of more or less times for any number of        memos).    -   Keep pressing and releasing “Rec” button until desired Memo is        selected.

To record selected memo:

-   -   Press and hold “Rec” button until a beep is heard.    -   Speak the memo to be recorded while holding the “Rec” button.    -   Release “Rec” button. Two beeps will be heard to confirm        recording.

To select memo to be played back:

-   -   Press “Play” button and release within one second.    -   Mirror will beep once for Memo #1, twice for Memo #2, and three        times for Memo #3.    -   Keep pressing and releasing “Rec” button until desired Memo is        selected.

To play back a memo:

-   -   Press and hold “Play” button until beep is heard, then release.    -   Mirror will play back memo.    -   Mirror will beep once to indicate end of memo.

To stop the playback of a memo, press the “Play” button and release.

Optionally, and with reference to FIG. 5, a mirror assembly 10″ may havean overlay or indicator 16″ in the video display area 14″ of the mirror.Thus, the driver may only have to look in one area of the mirror forreverse information. The overlay graphics may be generated in the LCMdisplay or the image can be supplied by the camera. The overlay graphicsmay be any size and/or configuration depending on the particularapplication of the mirror assembly. Optionally, and with reference toFIG. 6, a mirror assembly 10′″ may include an overlay or indicator 16′″that may provide colored bands (such as red, yellow and green bands atthe side and center regions of the video display 14′″) that may light upindividually depending on the distance to and location of an object orobstacle detected rearward of the vehicle.

With reference to FIG. 7, a mirror assembly 20 may include a videodisplay 22 and an indicator 24, such as similar to those describedabove, and the video display may provide different views of the scenerearward of the vehicle. Optionally, the user or driver may select whichview he or she wants to see at the mirror via a user input or button atthe mirror assembly.

As shown in FIGS. 8-11, a mirror system may include three displays at aninterior rearview mirror assembly 110, with a left display 114 a fordisplaying images of an area generally to the left side of the equippedvehicle, a right display 114 b for displaying images of an areagenerally to the right side of the equipped vehicle, and a centerdisplay 114 c for displaying images of an area generally to the rear ofthe equipped vehicle. The displays may display video images as capturedby respective cameras of the vehicle. Optionally, and desirably, thecenter display 114 c may be activated to display the rearward images(captured by a rearward facing camera 116 c) in response to the gearactuator or shifter of the vehicle being placed into a reverse gearposition. Optionally, the left and right video displays 114 a, 114 b maybe activated to display the respective sideward and rearward images(such as captured by respective sidewardly and rearwardly facing cameras116 a, 116 b) in response to activation of the appropriate or respectiveleft or right turn signal of the vehicle. The mirror assembly and/ordisplays may display other information, such as distances, temperatureand/or compass and/or trip data or information or the like.

The mirror reflector may comprise a transflective mirror reflector sothat the display or displays is/are viewable by the driver of thevehicle when activated and the display or displays is/are not readilyviewable or discernible when not activated.

Referring now to FIG. 12, an interior prismatic mirror reflectiveelement 210 includes a prismatic or wedge shaped substrate 212 having atransflective mirror reflector 214 disposed at the rear surface 212 a ofsubstrate 212. A light absorbing or masking element or opacifyingelement 216 is adhered or otherwise disposed to the rear of the mirrorreflector 214, with a window or aperture 216 a formed or establishedthrough the masking element 216. A display element or device 218 isdisposed to the rear of the masking element 216 and generally at thewindow 216 a so that information displayed by the display device 218 isviewable through the substrate 212 and mirror reflector 214. Optionally,and desirably, the display device is spaced affirmatively rearward fromthe reflective element substrate, in order to limit or reduce theviewability or discernibility of the display device when the displaydevice is not activated and enhance its covertness, such that the mirrorassembly provides a high transmission of the light or informationemitted by the display device while providing enhanced covertness of thedisplay device when it is not activated. In the illustrated embodiment,a transparent spacing element 220 is disposed between the mirrorreflector 214 and the masking element 216 to space the masking elementand display device slightly rearward from the mirror reflector 214 andsubstrate 212. Optionally, the spacing element may be transparent or maybe tinted (such as a grey color or the like) to enhance the appearanceof the mirror reflector. Optionally, the film or layer or element mayhave a refractive index close to that of glass, such as soda-lime glassor the like (such as a refractive index of between about 1.45 and about1.75 or thereabouts at the sodium D line, or of between about 1.5 andabout 1.65 or thereabouts at the sodium D line). The transparent spacingelement is useful in assisting in rendering the presence of theun-illuminated display device or video screen substantiallynon-noticeable behind the transflective mirror element to a driverviewing such an interior transflective display-on-demand minor assemblywhen it is normally mounted and viewed in the vehicle, such as in asimilar manner as the metal shim described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/912,576, filed Oct. 25, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,626,749and PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 15, 2006, andpublished Nov. 23, 2006 as International Publication No. WO 2006/124682,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

In the illustrated embodiment, the transparent spacing element 220 andmasking element 216 are provided as a transparent plastic sheet or film222 that is adherable to the rear of the substrate 212, such as to therear of the mirror reflector 214 disposed at the rear surface 212 a ofsubstrate 212. Alternately, a thin glass sheet may be used. The sheet orfilm 222 may include a layer of clear adhesive 222 a (preferablyindex-matched to the refractive index of soda-lime glass that is around1.52 at the sodium D line) at a forward facing surface of thetransparent spacing element 220 and another layer of adhesive 222 bbetween the transparent spacing element 220 and the masking element 216.A third layer of adhesive 222 c may be disposed at the rear of themasking element 216 for adhering the display device and/or otherelements at the rear of the reflective element. As can be seen in FIG.12, the adhesive layers 222 b and 222 c may also have a window oraperture formed therethrough that corresponds with the window oraperture 216 a of masking element 216. As indicated, such adhesivelayers preferably are substantially index-matched to glass.

Optionally, and as shown in FIGS. 13-14D, the sheet or film 222 may beprovided as a roll 224 or strip of sheets or films that are adhered to apeel away backing strip 226 a, whereby the individual sheet or film 222(including the transparent spacing element and masking element andadhesive layers) may be removed from the backing strip 226 a and appliedto the rear of the reflective element. The backing strip 226 a may beprovided as a roll whereby the strip may be unrolled to expose or accessthe individual sheets or films 222. Optionally, a die cut release liner226 b may be provided at the adhesive layer of the sheet or film 222opposite the backing strip or rolled release liner 226 a, such that theindividual film or sheet may be removed from the rolled release liner226 a and adhered to or applied to the rear of the reflective element,and the rear adhesive layer 222 c may remain unexposed (by its beingcovered with the die cut release liner 226 b) until it is desired orappropriate to expose the adhesive layer 222 c, such as when the displaydevice is disposed at the rear of the sheet or film 222.

The liners and adhesives and layers may comprise any suitable materials,depending on the particular application of the sheets or films. Forexample, the rolled release liner may comprise clear colored PETmaterial, such as a 3 Mil PET with a medium/light release from theadhesive layer 222 a, while the die-cut release liner may comprise apaper material (such as a white paper material) that may be siliconecoated on one side to ease removal from the adhesive layer 222 c.Optionally, the 3 Mil PET liner may have an easy release siliconecoating on one side and a slip coating on the other side. Optionally,the 3 Mil Facestock may be chemically treated on one side to promote inkadhesion, while the adhesive layer may comprise a water clear permanentacrylic adhesive or the like. Optionally, a water clear polyesteroverlaminating film with a print receptive coating may be disposed onone side for enhanced ink adhesion. The selected adhesive may provideenhanced clarity and enhanced balance of shear and peel strength, thusproviding performance characteristics. The sheets or films thus may behighly suitable in applications requiring a high degree of durabilityand dimensional stability.

The display element or device may comprise any suitable display element,such as a video display screen or the like, and/or may comprise a touchscreen or touch display. For example, the touch display may comprise asurface capacitive or projected capacitive touch panel display or thelike. Thus, the touch screen may be disposed behind the mirrorsubstrate, such that the mirror reflective element has a continuousfront surface to enhance the appearance and the cleaning/wiping of themirror reflective element.

Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, a reflective elementassembly 310 for an interior rearview mirror assembly 311 (that ismountable to an interior portion of a vehicle by a mounting arm orstructure 311 a that may attach or adhere to a mounting element at theinterior surface of the vehicle windshield or at an overhead console orheadliner of the vehicle) includes a display element or device 318 thatis operable to display information for viewing by the driver of thevehicle through at least a portion of the reflective element assembly310. As shown in FIG. 16, reflective element assembly 310 comprises avariable reflectance reflective element having an electro-optic medium317 (such as, for example, an electrochromic medium) disposed between afront substrate 312 and a rear substrate 313. The front substrate 312has a transparent conductor or conductive layer or coating 314 (such asa thin film or layer or coating of indium tin oxide (ITO) or the like)disposed or deposited on the rear surface 312 a of front substrate 312,while the rear substrate 313 has a reflector coating or layer 315 (suchas a metallic coating or layer or the like) disposed or deposited on thefront surface 313 a of rear substrate 313 (so as to provide a “thirdsurface reflector” at the front surface of the rear substrate and behindthe electro-optic medium 317). The reflective element assembly 310includes a perimeter seal 320 disposed around the electro-optic mediumand between front substrate 312 and rear substrate 313 to space thesubstrates apart and to seal the electro-optic medium between thesubstrates.

As can be seen in FIG. 16, the front substrate 312 has a larger crossdimension than the rear substrate 313 and extends beyond a side edge ofthe rear substrate to provide a display region 319 at one side (such asthe driver's side) of the mirror reflective element 310 (such as in asimilar manner as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/187,725, filed Aug. 7, 2008 (Attorney Docket DON09 P-1455), which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). Display device318 (such as a backlit LCD video screen or other suitable displayelement, such as an organic light emitting diode OLED screen or alow-cost monochrome multipixel vacuum fluorescent screen or the like) isoperable to emit or project illumination or display information throughthe transparent conductor 314 and front substrate 312 so as to beviewable by the driver of the vehicle when the display device isactivated. The transparent conductor 314 extends across the rear surface312 a of front substrate 312, and the portion 314 a of the transparentconductor 314 at the display region 319 may be electrically isolated orinsulated from the portion 314 b of the transparent conductor at theprincipal reflecting region or main viewing region of the mirror (and atthe electro-optic medium), such as via an electrically insulatingdemarcation line 314 c formed or established through the transparentconductor 314 (such as a laser scribed break or gap in the transparentconductor) at an inboard region of the display region. Note thatoptionally, the portion 314 a of the transparent conductor 314 at thedisplay region may be dispensed with so that the display region isdevoid of the transparent conductor (such as, for example, by maskingthe display region when the transparent electrical conductor coating ofportion 314 b is being deposited).

Thus, the principal reflecting region or main viewing region of themirror reflective element may be variably reflectant responsive todimming of the electro-optic medium via powering of the transparentconductor and the third surface reflector, while the display region 319allows for viewing of the display information through the frontsubstrate. Thus, the front surface 312 b of the front substrate 312 iscontinuous across the reflective element to provide an unbroken frontsurface of the reflective element, which facilitates the likes of easeof wiping/cleaning and that presents to the driver in an attractive,utilitarian manner. Optionally, a user input display (such as a keypaddisplay or the like, such as discussed below) may be disposed behind thefront substrate at the display region, whereby a user may view andselect and activate or control an accessory or feature of the mirrorsystem or mirror assembly, such as in a similar manner as discussedbelow. Optionally, one or more light absorbing, substantially opaquehiding layers or coatings may be disposed at the rear of the frontsubstrate and between the front substrate and the perimeter seal so asto effectively hide or conceal the perimeter seal from being readilyviewable by a person viewing the reflective element. Such a lightabsorbing or substantially opaque hiding layer or coating may compriseany suitable material, such as a metallic material, such as a chromiummetallic reflective layer or the like, and may utilize aspects of themetallic reflective perimeter bands described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,274,501; 7,255,451; and/or 7,184,190; and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005, and published Mar. 23, 2006 asU.S. Publication No. US 2006/0061008; and/or Ser. No. 11/912,576, filedOct. 25, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,626,749, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Such a cross border or border band or separating or demarcating orhiding or bordering or framing or outlining layer or element or coatingor strip or band (that may be an opaque or partially opaque orreflective coating or light absorbing coating or element) thus may beestablished at the perimeter edge regions of the front substrate andalong the perimeter seal (and thus around the electro-optic activeregion) so as to outline or demarcate or border the perimeter of thedisplay element or display region. The hiding layer thus may mask orhide from direct view of the driver the seal and/or other components orelements of the mirror reflector assembly construction that are to therear of the front substrate and in the area of the bordering or hidinglayer or element. The hiding layer thus serves as a demarcation elementand a hiding or occluding element for the display element disposedbehind the glass substrate at the display region of the mirror reflectorassembly. Optionally, the hiding layer or demarcating or bordering layermay be implemented to demarcate or border other accessories or devices,such as other display devices or elements or a wide angle reflectorelement or the like (such as by utilizing aspects of the mirrorassemblies described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/187,725,filed Aug. 7, 2008 (Attorney Docket DON09 P-1455), which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety).

Optionally, and with reference to FIG. 17, a front substrate 312′ of amirror reflective element assembly 310′ may have an aperture or window319′ cut or formed or otherwise established therethrough to provide awindow at which the display element or device may be disposed. The edges319 a′ of window 319′ may be chamfered or seamed to provide anaesthetically pleasing window frame around the window to provide anenhanced appearance to the mirror reflective element and mirrorassembly. The display element or device may be disposed behind thesubstrate with its viewing area at the window so that a person viewingthe reflective element may readily view the information being displayedby the display element or device through the window or aperture in thefront substrate. The mirror reflective element assembly 310′ mayotherwise be similar to mirror reflective element 310 discussed above,such that a detailed discussion of the mirror reflective elements neednot be included herein.

Optionally, and with reference to FIG. 18, an interior rearview mirrorassembly 411 includes a video display module or element or device 418,such as in a similar manner as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268;7,184,190; 7,274,501; and/or 7,370,983, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/091,525, filed Apr. 25, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,855,755;Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005, and published on Mar. 9, 2006as U.S. Publication No. US 2006/0050018; and/or Ser. No. 10/755,915,filed Jan. 13, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,446,650, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. As can be seen inFIG. 18, mirror assembly 411 includes a reflective element 410 that isdisposed at a front casing portion or back plate 430, with the backplate 430 including a display receiving portion 430 a for supporting thedisplay element at a side region proximate the driver side or end of thereflective element. The display element 418 may be received at thedisplay receiving portion 430 a and circuitry or a circuit board 432 maybe disposed at the display element for electrically connecting thedisplay element or module to power and/or control. The mirror assembly411 may include a mounting structure 434 (such as a double ball mountingarm or the like) that may attach to the back plate 430 and that mayextend from the back plate 430 and through a rear casing 436 of mirrorassembly 411 and mount or attach to a mounting element or button at aninterior portion of the vehicle, such as at an interior surface of thevehicle windshield or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the display element or module 418 may beresponsive to a global positioning system (GPS) antenna and/or module438 and a navigation module or device 439 to display navigationinformation to the driver of the vehicle or the display element ormodule 418 may be responsive to a rearward facing camera or imagingsensor 440 to display video images of the area rearward of the vehicleso as to enhance the rearward viewing to the driver of the vehicle, suchas when the driver is making a reversing maneuver and has shifted thegear selector device to a reverse gear position. The display module maybe connected to the GPS module and/or navigation module and/or cameravia any suitable connecting means, such as a serial/UART connectionand/or an analog RGB or CVBS (NTSC) video connection or the like. Thedisplay module may be compatible with any suitable navigation modulethat supports analog video and remote control from a touch screen or thelike at or of the display module. Optionally, and as shown in FIGS. 21and 22, other connections and configurations may be implemented whileremaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Optionally, and as shown in FIGS. 23A-J, the mirror assembly maycomprise various configurations. For example, the display module orscreen may be at a separate display region that is separate from thereflective element (such as shown in FIGS. 23A-D and 23G-J), or thedisplay screen may be disposed behind the front substrate of thereflective element (such as shown in FIGS. 23E and 23F), and optionallywith a window or aperture formed in the substrate and with the edges ofthe window being chamfered or seamed to provide an enhanced appearanceto the mirror reflective element (such as shown in FIG. 23F and such asdiscussed above with respect to FIG. 17). Thus, the likes of a standard“off-the-shelf” touch activated unit, such as a Garmin or Tom-Tomnavigational GPS unit or the like, may be disposed immediately to therear of the reflective element and the driver of the vehicle can reachup to and touch-activate the touch screen of the unit by passing his orher finger through the window or aperture formed in the substrate of therefractive element. Other configurations, both electro-optic andnon-electro-optic (such as prismatic) may be implemented while remainingwithin the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The display module or display element or display screen may comprise anysuitable display element or device. For example, the display element maycomprise a high intensity VF display, a high intensity VF monochromemultiplexed display, a high intensity LED display, an OLED display, aHUD display, an LED display, or a thin film transistor (TFT) display orthe like.

Optionally, the display module and/or the reflective element maycomprise a “touch screen” or “individual reconfigurable buttons” orinputs to provide enhanced user selection and/or control of the displaymodule and other accessories associated with the mirror assembly. Forexample, a touch screen could be established by utilizing a coating onthe reflective element and adding additional switch options around thetouch screen that may be used to control the camera and/or otherfeatures. When the vehicle is in a reverse gear, a dedicated or vehicleLIN/CAN communication bus can control the camera features directly fromthe mirror. The camera control may be accomplished via buttons in a maskarea around the touch screen so that none of the active screen area isused to simulate the buttons while the vehicle is in its reverse gear.This would allow the camera and other feature buttons to be controlledby the mirror microprocessor and the touch screen could be controlled bythe navigation microprocessor or microprocessors (such as at a remotenavigation module) if requested. Optionally, the video mirror may have aglass substrate that covers the display and that may include ananti-smudge and anti-static coating to minimize fingerprints on thefront glass substrate.

Such reconfigurable inputs may allow vehicle or mirror manufacturers toprovide inputs that the customer may activate to control and change someof the system features, such as digital zoom, multiple overlay options,top view as well as other features. The video mirror advantage gives thevehicle manufacturers the option to readily add a reverse aid featurewithout having an on-board screen (such as a navigation screen) andminimal vehicle architecture changes at a very competitive price. Inorder to utilize the camera features, the mirror supplier may utilizethe CAN or LIN bus of the vehicle in order to accomplish thehuman-machine interface.

Optionally, and with reference to FIG. 24, the mirror system may includea video display and optical touch screen 450 that is operable to detectthe presence of a user's finger at or near the touch screen and todetect the touch of the user's finger at the touch screen. In theillustrated embodiment, optical touch screen 450 includes amicrocontroller 452, an ASIC or ASIC chip or element 454, an opticalsensor 456 and one or more illumination sources 458, such as a pluralityof light emitting diodes (LEDs) or the like. Optionally, a light pipe orlight directing element 460 may be disposed at or near the sensor 456(such as at or near the edge of the mirror bezel or elsewhere at themirror assembly depending on the particular application of thedisplay/touch screen) to gather and direct light toward the opticalsensor 456. The display screen may be disposed at the mirror assemblyand behind the reflective element (such as behind a transflectivedisplay on demand reflective element), and the sensor may be disposed atthe display screen or touch screen or elsewhere at the mirror assembly,such as at the bezel of the mirror assembly, with the light pipedirecting light toward the optical sensor to enhance the sensingperformance of the optical sensor. Optionally, such a light pipe may notbe necessary if the sensor is disposed behind a transflective reflectiveelement and the sensor or system is capable of amplifying andconditioning the signal enough to provide a sufficient output signalindicative of the sensed light at the mirror glass.

In the illustrated embodiment, the light sources 458 comprise one ormore of the backlighting LEDs of the backlit video display screen, suchas a backlit thin film transistor (TFT) video display screen. The systemthus may include support circuitry to temporarily electrically isolatethe selected LEDs (such as four LEDs at the corner regions of the videodisplay screen) from the rest of the backlighting string of LEDs and putthe selected LEDs at least temporarily or episodically under the controlof the ASIC. The system may also include software algorithms that run onthe host microcontroller to interpret the data gathered from the ASIC.

The touch screen 450 may detect the presence or approach of the user'sfinger (such as in response to a change in the light sensed by theoptical sensor) and may actuate portions of the touch screen thatcorrespond to the detected presence or detected location of the user'sfinger. For example, four LEDs 458 may be selectively or sequentiallyindividually and episodically actuated or energized to providecontrolled illumination at particular respective locations of thedisplay screen/touch screen, and the light sensor 456 may detect achange in the level of light at or near the screen. For example, an LEDat each corner of the display screen may be selected for episodicenergization and the optical sensor 456 may detect the light levels ateach time of energization of each LED, whereby the control ormicrocontroller 452 may determine the general location of the user'sfinger by detecting a change in the light level corresponding toactuation or energization of one of the LEDs as compared to the others,with such a detected change in detected light levels being indicative ofthe user's finger (or other object) approaching that LED and reflectingthe light emanating from the respective LED toward the sensor or lightpipe. By processing the output of the light sensor in conjunction withthe timing of the activation of the respective LEDs, the system candetermine at which area (such as a quadrant of the screen correspondingto a respective corner LED of the display screen) the user's finger islocated and activate the touch screen elements at or near that location.

The optical touch screen of the present invention is built around a highsensitivity and ambient light immune optical sensor system, such as thetype developed by Mechaless, a subsidiary of Elmos Semiconductor. Thetouch screen concept utilizes, for example, the backlighting LEDs of aTFT video module in a transflective, display on demand video mirrorsystem as the light stimulus. By briefly and sequentially taking thefour corner LEDs (or other advantageously positioned LEDs) out of theirbacklighting role and putting them in the control of the touch screenASIC, the timing of the stimulus is known by the system. While each ofthe LEDs is under the control of the ASIC, the ASIC simultaneously readsthe output of the optical sensor, whose input is the light received bythe sensor, such as the light gathered by the light pipe. A detectedincrease in light level compared to the ambient level is indicative thata user's finger (or other object) has approached the screen, while adetected increase in light level when one of the LEDs is activatedcompared to when the other LEDs are individually activated is indicativethat a user's finger (or other object) is at a particular area or regionat or near the one LED. An algorithm running on the microcontrollerutilizes the data returned by the sensor for all four LEDs, in theirrespective time slots, to determine the position of the user's fingerand thereby can activate the touch screen controls or elements, if oneexists, at or near or under the finger position. Optionally, withadvanced algorithms, the system may utilize 3-axis data so as to enhancedetection of the user's finger and to detect the approach of the user'sfinger or to “see” the user's finger approaching the touch screen.

Thus, the display screen/touch screen of the present invention providesthe ability to detect the presence or approach of a user's finger orother object at the screen so as to actuate the touch screen aspects ofthe screen before the user's finer contacts the touch screen. Thepresent invention thus provides enhanced performance and can operateunder reduced power because the touch screen aspects or circuitry of thescreen or module are only activated when it is appropriate to have themactivated, such as when a user's finger or other object is approaching aparticular area of the touch screen. The use of the LEDs of the backlitdisplay screen provides a common light source for both the video displayscreen and the sensing system and thus does not require a separate lightsource at the mirror assembly for detecting the presence of the user'sfinger.

One of the challenges of having a navigation feature (such as anavigation display and associated user inputs) in the interior rearviewmirror is difficulties a user may encounter when entering text (such as,for example, addresses for target destinations or the like). Because thesize of the LCM is typically about 3.5 inches, the characters on anykeypad provided at the touch screen video display may be limited in size(or may require that the user scroll through the characters to arrive atthe desired character). Optionally, a rearview mirror system or rearviewmirror assembly in accordance with the present invention may provide anenhanced or larger touch screen or optical touch screen or sensor at asubstantial portion of the mirror reflective element to provide a largerand more user friendly keypad or supplemental keypad that may be readilyviewed and used by a user of the mirror system.

For example, and with reference to FIGS. 25 and 26, a mirror assembly411′ includes a reflective element 410′ and a display device or element418′ at a display viewing region or video display viewing region 461 a′(such as toward or at a side region proximate a driver side or end ofthe reflective element). The mirror assembly 411′ includes a keypad maskor element 460′ that may be disposed behind the reflective element 410′at a main viewing region or area 461 b′, such as at or behind a touchscreen portion 410 a′ of the reflective element 410′. The mirrorassembly 411′ may include a back light device 462′ (such as an array oflight emitting diodes or the like) that is operable to backlight thekeypad mask 460′ so that the keypad mask (such as alphanumericcharacters arranged like a typical keyboard, such as for a computer, orsuch as any suitable input display or array of inputs or characters thata user may discern and understand for controlling one or more featuresof the video display and/or other accessory of the mirror system and/orthe vehicle) is readily viewable through the transflective reflectiveelement when the back light device 462′ is activated (but the partiallytransmissive and partially reflective transflective reflective elementlimits viewability or discernibility of the keypad when the back lightdevice is deactivated). The back light device may comprise a pluralityof illumination sources or LEDs disposed at a circuit element, such as aprinted circuit board or the like, and the circuit element may includeor support or be connected to circuitry associated with the back lightdevice and/or the display module and/or the reflective element dimmingcontrol and/or any other accessory or system associated with the mirrorassembly.

In the illustrated embodiment, the transflective reflective elementcomprises the main viewing region 461 b′ and the video display viewingregion 461 a′, with the main viewing region being larger than the videodisplay viewing region and encompassing a substantial portion of themirror reflector of the reflective element. For example, and withreference to FIG. 25, the mirror assembly may have a length dimension Lof about eight to twelve inches or thereabouts and a width or heightdimension W of about two to four inches or thereabouts. The videodisplay may have a display screen that has a diagonal dimension D ofless than about five inches, such as less than about four inches, andgreater than about two and a half inches. Thus, and as can be seen inFIG. 25, the mirror assembly may provide a user input or touch screen atmain viewing region 461 b′ that is larger than the video displayviewable at video display viewing region 461 a′.

The information input display or keyboard display may comprise a displayrepresentative of a plurality of user inputs, wherein the informationinput display is backlit by the backlighting device 462′ and wherein theinformation input display is disposed behind the reflective element andviewable through the transflective mirror reflector at the main viewingregion when the information input display is backlit by the backlightingdevice. The information input display may be substantially not viewableor discernible to a person viewing the mirror assembly when the mirrorassembly is normally mounted in a vehicle and when the backlightingdevice is deactivated. The reflective element provides a touch screenfunction at the information input display, and a control of the mirrorsystem or mirror assembly may be operable to determine a location of atouch or proximity of an object at the reflective element and correlatethe determined location to an input character of the information inputdisplay.

Optionally, the control may activate the backlighting device and enableoperation of the touch screen in response to a user input, such as inresponse to a user pressing a button or otherwise actuating a user inputat the mirror assembly, such as at a bezel portion of the mirrorassembly or the like. Optionally, the control may deactivate thebacklighting device and disable operation of the touch screen inresponse to a period of time elapsing following the activation of thebacklighting device and/or following a detection of a touch or proximityof an object at the touch screen. Optionally, the backlighting devicemay be activated and the touch screen may be enabled in response to thevehicle ignition being on (such as when the vehicle ignition is on andthe vehicle engine is running) with the vehicle not in motion and/or inresponse to the vehicle ignition being on with the vehicle engine notrunning (such as when the ignition key is first turned to the onposition but before the engine is started).

The touch screen portion 410 a′ of reflective element 410′ allows auser's finger (either by touching or approaching the glass reflectiveelement) to be detected, such as by an optical touch screen or sensor asdescribed above of by other suitable touch screen technology at thereflective element. For example, an optical touch screen may be operableto detect the presence of a user's finger or stylus at or near areas orregions that correspond to respective characters or numbers or lettersof an alphanumeric keypad mask, and the processor may determine whichcharacter the user's finger or stylus is at and generate an appropriateoutput signal indicative of the “touched” character. For example, thesystem may detect the user's finger at the letter “D” of the key pad andmay provide a corresponding input to the navigation system or the likeof the vehicle. Optionally, and desirably, the front surface of thereflective element (the surface generally facing the driver of thevehicle when the mirror assembly is normally mounted in a vehicle) mayhave an anti-bacterial coating or layer disposed thereon.

The mirror assembly 411′ includes a housing 414′ and an attachment plateand mounting bracket (such as a double ball or double pivot jointmounting assembly or configuration) for adjustably mounting thereflective element 410′ to an interior portion of a vehicle, such as theinterior surface of the vehicle windshield or the like. The circuitelement 464′ (FIG. 27), such as a printed circuit board or the like, mayhave a connector and harness extending therefrom for attaching to orelectrically connecting to a vehicle harness or the like, with the backlight device 462′ disposed at or in front of the circuit element orcircuit board 464′ and operable to backlight the keypad so that it thekeypad 460′ is viewable through the reflective element when theillumination sources are activated. The reflective element 410′ may besupported at the housing 414′ and/or a bezel portion, and a mask element(such as an opaque layer or element to limit light passage therethrough)may be disposed at or behind the rear surface of the reflective elementto provide an opaque layer at the rear of the reflective element with awindow established for the video display screen to be viewable throughthe reflective element when the video display module is activated (andmay include a plurality of smaller windows or a single large window atthe keypad so that light from the illumination sources passes throughthe window/windows of the mask element and through the keypad so thatthe keypad is viewable through the reflective element when theillumination sources are activated). The reflective element 410′ (suchas an electro-optic reflective element subassembly, such as anelectrochromic reflective element subassembly) includes a touch screenfunction and the circuit element or circuit board 464′ includes touchcontroller circuitry (and may include other circuitry or sensors oraccessories depending on the particular application and desiredelectrical content of the mirror assembly).

Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 27 and 27A, the touch screen ofthe reflective element 410′ may comprise a surface capacitive touchscreen or touch screen system incorporated at the mirror glass, and maydetermine the location of a touch at the front surface 410 h′ of thereflective element by sensing the current flow at a plurality (such as,for example, four) discrete locations or connections or nodes 466′around the perimeter of the reflective element. For example, the frontsurface 410 b′ of the reflective element 410′ may be coated with atransparent conductive coating or layer, such as a coating of indium tinoxide (ITO) or the like, which is electrically conductively connected tothe corner connections or nodes 466′. The system may generate anelectrical current and provide the current to the nodes 466′ and thus tothe transparent conductive coating at the front surface of thereflective element. Optionally, a conductive trace 468′ may be disposedaround the perimeter edge of the reflective element and conductivelyconnected to the nodes 466′. The conductive trace may be disposed in apattern that facilitates linearization of the response the systemreceives when a person touches the front surface of the reflectiveelement.

Thus, when the mirror is activated (such as when the vehicle ignition ison or when the video display module is activated or in response to auser input or the like), and when the touch screen system is activatedand the current is communicated to the nodes 466′ and surface coating,the touch screen may determine the location of a touch at the frontsurface of the reflective element. For example, when a finger 472′ (orother object, such as a stylus or the like) touches the front surface410 b′ of the reflective element 410′ (such as shown in FIG. 27A), thefinger conducts or draws current away from the glass. The amount ofcurrent that then flows through each node varies depending on theproximity of the touch to that node (due to the difference in resistanceto the current flow from the respective nodes and across the frontsurface of the reflective element to the touched location). The amountof current that flows through each of the nodes 466′ can be measured andcompared (such as by a controller or microcontroller or processor 470′)to the current flowing through the other nodes. The sensed current orrelative current draw at the nodes 466′ is processed by the controlleror microcontroller or processor 470′ to determine the position orlocation of the touch at the front surface of the reflective element.The controller 470′ may then determine which character or letter ornumber of the keypad the determined location corresponds to and maygenerate an appropriate signal to the appropriate circuitry of themirror system.

Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 28 and 28A, the touch screen ofa mirror reflective element 410″ may comprise a projective capacitytouch screen or touch screen system incorporated at the mirror glass,and may determine the location of a touch at the front surface 410 b″ ofthe reflective element 410″ by sensing a change in frequency of anoscillator 465″ and determining the location of the touch responsive tothe sensed or detected or determined change in frequency. As shown inFIG. 28, the oscillator 465″ may be disposed at or on a circuit element464″ (such as a printed circuit board or the like), which may include orsupport a controller 470″, a counter 468″ and a multiplexer 469″. Themultiplexer 469″ is in electrical communication with a plurality ofsensing wires or pads 466″ at the mirror reflective element 410″ (suchas behind the mirror glass). The system detects a capacitance that isformed between a user's finger (or other object) and a projectedcapacitance of the sensing pads 466″, whereby the controller 470″ candetermine the location of the touch (or proximity) of the finger orobject 472″ responsive to the detected capacitance and correspondingchange in frequency of the oscillator 465″.

Thus, when the mirror is activated (such as when the vehicle ignition ison or when the video display module is activated or in response to auser input or the like), and when the touch screen system is activated,the touch screen may determine the location of a touch at the frontsurface of the reflective element. For example, when a finger 472″ (orother object, such as a stylus or the like) touches or approaches thefront surface 410 b″ of the reflective element 410″ (such as shown inFIG. 28A), the capacitance formed between the user's finger and thesensing pads 466″ varies depending on the proximity of the touch to thepads. The detected increase in capacitance at a proximate pad or pads isdetected, which results in a decrease in the frequency of the oscillator465″. The change in frequency is processed by the controller ormicrocontroller or processor 470″ to determine the position or locationof the touch at the front surface of the reflective element. Thecontroller 470″ may then determine which character or letter or numberof the keypad the determined location corresponds to and may generate anappropriate signal to the appropriate circuitry of the mirror system.

The pads may be arranged in a grid pattern or array (such as shown inFIG. 28), or may be arranged at discrete points or may be otherwisearranged depending on the particular application of the touch screensystem and mirror reflective element assembly. The pads may be arrangedat the rear of a rear substrate of an electro-optic reflective elementassembly and thus function to detect the proximity of the finger orobject as it approaches and/or touches the front surface of a frontsubstrate of the electro-optic reflective element assembly.

The touch pads may be in the form of transparent conductive areas orpads at the back or front of the mirror reflective element glasssubstrate or substrates. The grid or array of pads may be establishedusing multiple conductive layers. Optionally, for example, the touchpads may be disposed behind the mirror reflector or reflective surface(such as at the third or fourth surface of the reflective elementassembly) or in front of the mirror reflector (such as at the second orfirst surface of the reflective element assembly). Optionally, anddesirably, the touch pads may be disposed at the first surface (thefront surface of the front substrate) to avoid any shielding of the padsby the conductive coatings at the second, third and/or fourth surfacesof the reflective element assembly, and may have a thin protectivecoating on top or over the first or front surface of the reflectiveelement and the touch pads (such as a protective coating of the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,201,642; 6,454,449; 5,179,471; 5,751,489;5,073,012; and/or 5,523,877, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/218,374, filed Sep. 2, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,507,438, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties).Optionally, the touch pads may be disposed at the rear or back surfaceof a third glass substrate (such as an ultrathin glass substrate of thetypes described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,338,177 and/or 7,420,756, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties) that may bedisposed at the front of the reflective element (and may be adhered tothe front surface of the front substrate, such as via an opticaladhesive or the like, such as by utilizing aspects of the mirrorassemblies described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,073,012; 5,115,346; 5,355,245;and 5,523,877, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/603,518, filedJun. 25, 2003, and published Jan. 8, 2004 as U.S. Patent Publication No.US 2004/0004605, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,345,680; and/or Ser. No.12/187,725, filed Aug. 7, 2008, and published Feb. 12, 2009 as U.S.Patent Publication No. US 2009/0040306, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties).

The mirror reflective element of the present invention thus may displayvarious indicia or characters or icons (such as a keypad as describedabove) and may detect the location of a user's touch to determine whatindicia or character the user touched the front surface of thereflective element. Although shown and described as determining a touchlocation relative to a keypad display, clearly the mirror assembly mayhave other forms of displays at or behind the reflective element and maydetermine the location of the touch and corresponding input for thevideo display or other accessory associated with the mirror systemand/or the vehicle. Also, other touch screen systems are contemplated,such as resistive touch screens, surface acoustic wave touch screens,capacitive touch screens, infrared touch screens, strain gauge touchscreens, optical imaging touch screens, dispersive signal touch screens,acoustic pulse recognition touch screens and/or the like, for use withthe keypad or other touch sensing functions at a mirror reflectiveelement assembly in accordance with the present invention. The touchscreen system or systems may utilize aspects of the mirror and/or touchscreen systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,490,227; 4,650,557;4,655,811; 5,725,957; 6,001,486; 6,087,012; 6,970,160; 6,440,491;6,620,454; 6,627,918; 6,706,552; 6,787,240; 6,488,981; 6,549,193;6,727,895; 6,842,171; and/or 7,165,323; and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/946,228, filed Sep. 5, 2001 by Ippel et al. for PLASTICSUBSTRATE FOR INFORMATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME; Ser. No.09/974,209, filed Oct. 10, 2001; Ser. No. 10/744,522, filed Dec. 23,2003 by Halsey et al. for METHOD FOR MAKING AN INTERACTIVE INFORMATIONDEVICE (Attorney Docket DON03 P-1131); Ser. No. 10/798,171, filed Mar.11, 2004 by Getz for LASER DELETION FOR TOUCH SCREEN; Ser. No.11/218,374, filed Sep. 2, 2005 by Cherif et al. for DISPLAY SUBSTRATEWITH DIFFUSER COATING, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,507,438; and/or Ser. No.11/440,855, filed May 25, 2006 (Attorney Docket DON03 P-1275), and/orPCT Application No. PCT/US2008/68987, filed Jul. 2, 2008, and publishedon Jan. 8, 2009 as International Publication No. WO 2009006512, and/orInternational Application No. PCT/US2008/071034, filed Jul. 28, 2008,and published Feb. 5, 2009 as International Publication No. WO2009/018094, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

Thus, the entire surface of the mirror (or a substantial portion orsurface of the mirror reflective element) may be used to provide alarger touch screen than that previously provided at the video displayscreen. Because the area of the LCM video display may be much less thanthe remaining area of the reflective element assembly, it can beadvantageous to implement a supplemental keypad at the reflectiveelement. In the illustrated embodiment, such a supplemental keypad isprovided by using an alphanumeric mask and a backlight device disposedbehind the transflective reflective element. The backlight devicegenerates enough light so that the keypad is visible through thereflective surface when the backlight device is activated, and when thebacklight is not activated, the keypad is substantially not viewable ordiscernible by a person viewing the reflective element.

Although shown as having a backlit keypad display or user input displaythat is provided as a mask element at the rear of the reflectiveelement, it is envisioned that the user input display may comprise abacklit mask element or may comprise a backlit reconfigurable display(such as a TFT LCD display or the like). Optionally, the mirror assemblymay comprise two separate displays or display elements, such as a videodisplay and a separate backlit user input display such as describedabove, or the mirror assembly may comprise a single display element ordevice or module disposed behind and substantially encompassing themirror reflective element. For example, a portion of a larger singledisplay element or device or module may be used to display video images(such as at a video display viewing region such as at or toward a driverside of the mirror assembly) and another portion of the display elementor device or module may be used to display user input characters, suchas for a keypad or the like.

Optionally, and desirably, the keypad may function cooperatively withthe automotive OEM navigation system and/or with a navigation system ofthe mirror assembly or system. In typical automotive navigation systems,the ability to enter text may be limited to operation when the vehicleis in a static condition (when the vehicle is not moving). Because rearvision (such as by viewing through the rear window of the vehicle byviewing the reflected images at the interior rearview mirror) is notneeded when the vehicle is static, the supplement keypad can be viewableat the principal reflecting region or main viewing region of thereflective element and may be used during such static or non-movingconditions without effecting driver safety.

The final display luminance (and especially for a TFT LCD displayelement showing video or full color video or still images), whenmeasured through the reflective element and mirror reflector ispreferably greater than about 300 candelas per meters squared (cd/m²),more preferably greater than about 500 cd/m², and more preferablygreater than about 1,000 cd/m² and more preferably greater than about2,000 cd/m². Optionally, the information input display or keyboarddisplay may be displayed or backlit so as to have a display luminance(when measured through the reflective element and mirror reflector) ispreferably greater than about 300 cd/m², more preferably greater thanabout 500 cd/m², and more preferably greater than about 1,000 cd/m² andmore preferably greater than about 2,000 cd/m². This is to help ensurethat the driver can discern any video image and/or user input characteror indicia being displayed or backlit against the sunlight streaming inthrough the rear window and incident at the display area or main viewingarea of the interior mirror reflective element that will tend towash-out the video image and/or information input display unless thevideo image and/or information input display is sufficiently bright. Forsuch display elements (such as a TFT LCD video display or the like) orother display types, the desired degree of luminance may be achieved by,but is not limited to, cold cathode fluorescent tubes, white lightemitting light emitting diodes (LEDs), such as an array of white lightemitting LEDs arranged behind the keypad display, or white lightgenerated through color mixing of red, green, and blue LEDs, or othersuitable illumination sources or elements, located at the vide displayelement and/or keypad display or user input display and rearward of thereflective element.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include one or more user inputs atthe bezel portion of the mirror assembly, and the user inputs maycomprise touch or proximity sensors disposed behind the bezel portion.For example, and with reference to FIG. 29, an interior rearview mirrorassembly 510 may include a reflective element 512, a video display 514and one or more user inputs or buttons 516, which may comprise touchsensors or proximity sensors or plates disposed behind the bezel portionwith indicia or button shapes or the like established at the viewablesurface of the bezel portion. Interior rearview mirror assembly 510includes a housing 518 and an attachment plate and mounting bracket(such as a double ball or double pivot joint mounting assembly orconfiguration) for adjustably mounting the reflective element 512 to aninterior portion of a vehicle, such as the interior surface of thevehicle windshield or the like. The user inputs 516 are disposed alongor established at or behind a bezel portion 520 of the mirror assembly510, such as at a region of the bezel portion at or near or below thevideo display 514. The user inputs 516 are electrically connected orlinked to a controller or microcontroller or processor or microprocessor522, whereby the controller determines when a person's finger (or otherobject) approaches and/or touches the bezel portion at the user inputsand determines the appropriate input associated with the location of thetouch or proximity of the finger or object.

The user inputs or capacitive touch sensors 516 are thus disposed at thebezel portion of the mirror rather than in or on a glass substrate ofthe reflective element. A user may touch the bezel at the appropriatelocation to activate a function. With reference to FIG. 29, the userinputs 516 may be associated with a video display 514, whereby actuationof the user inputs may control the video display. Optionally, the touchsensors or user inputs may function to control or actuate otheraccessories. For example, and with reference to FIG. 30, user inputs516′ at bezel portion 520′ of mirror assembly 510′ may be operable tocontrol a radio, with power, tuning and volume “buttons” molded into thebezel portion. A display device 514′ may be disposed at or behind (andviewable through) the reflective element 512′, and may be operable todisplay the radio information, such as the station to which the radio istuned, the volume of the radio, the selected band, and/or the like. Asshown in FIG. 30, the display device 514′ may be located at or near theuser inputs 516′, with the tuning buttons or inputs 516 a′ located belowthe tuning display 514 a′ and the volume buttons or inputs 516 b′located below the volume display 514 b′, so as to ease a user'sunderstanding and cognitive awareness of the function of the molded userinputs at the bezel portion of the mirror assembly.

On the back of or molded into the bezel would be a touch sensitive plate524 (FIG. 31), such as for each function of the user inputs. Thecontroller 522 may include an algorithm for measuring capacitance byevaluating the step response in the time domain (or may measure a changein frequency). When the sensitive area (proximate the plate or plates)is touched (or approached), the increase in capacitance increases thetime it takes for the capacitor to charge to a threshold charge level,such as the logic high threshold in FIG. 31. This change or time delaymay be measured by the controller, such as by using a timer in thecontroller. For example, and with reference to FIG. 31, the controllermay include an input/output pin 526 for each plate 524, and theinput/output pin may be set to a low output (where the controller maydrive the pin to a zero or low voltage to discharge the associated orrespective capacitor). The input/output pin may then be set to input(whereby the controller releases the driving voltage and no longerdrives the pin toward a zero voltage such that the capacitor may beginto accumulate a charge), and the controller may reset the timer or setthe timer to zero. The controller may then record the time elapsed fromwhen the pin is set to input and the pin signal thus begins to increase(indicative of the charge or increase in voltage at the capacitor as thecapacitor charges) to when the signal reaches the predetermined orselected threshold level (such as a voltage of about ½, of the appliedvoltage). When the controller registers that the charge has reached thethreshold level, the controller determines the elapsed time ΔT (FIG.31), such as by reading the timer or timing device or counter, and ifthe measured elapsed time is greater than an average elapsed time orthreshold elapsed time, then the controller determines that a “touch” isbeing made at that location. The controller may then control theappropriate function, and may update the average elapsed time, andreturn to the beginning and repeat the process.

Optionally, the user inputs may utilize aspects of the touch orproximity switches described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,001,486; 6,310,611;6,320,282; 6,627,918; 6,690,268; 7,224,324; 7,249,860; 7,253,723;7,255,451; 7,360,932; and/or 7,446,924, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005, and published on Mar. 9, 2006as U.S. Publication No. US 2006/0050018, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties, or the inputs may compriseother types of buttons or switches, such as fabric-made positiondetectors, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,504,531;6,501,465; 6,492,980; 6,452,479; 6,437,258; and 6,369,804, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Forexample, the inputs may comprise a touch or proximity sensor of thetypes commercially available from TouchSensor Technologies, LLC ofWheaton, Ill. The touch or proximity sensor may be operable to generatean electric field and to detect the presence of a conductive massentering the field. When a voltage is applied to the sensor, the sensorgenerates the electric field, which emanates through any dielectricmaterial, such as plastic or the like (such as through the plastic bezelportion), at the sensor. When a conductive mass (suoh as a person'sfinger or the like, or metal or the like) enters the electric field, thesensor may detect a change in the field and may indicate such adetection. Optionally, other types of switches or buttons or inputs orsensors may be incorporated into the user inputs to provide the desiredfunction or functions, while remaining within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

Optionally, the video display module may provide a graphic overlay toenhance the driver's cognitive awareness of the distances to objects tothe rear of the vehicle (such as by utilizing aspects of the systemsdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,670,935; 5,949,331; 6,222,447; and6,611,202; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US08/76022, filed Sep. 11,2008 and published Mar. 19, 2009 as International Publication No. WO2009/036176, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. Such graphic overlays may be generated at or by the cameracircuitry or the mirror or display circuitry. Optionally, the displaymodule may comprise a high luminance 3.5 inch (or larger or smaller)video display with basic overlay capability designed into the mirrorassembly.

Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 32-36, an interior rearviewmirror assembly 610 may include a display device 612 that is operable toemit or project display information toward and onto the windshield 611in an area proximate the interior rearview mirror assembly, such as atan area generally above the mirror assembly and at or near the driverside of the mirror assembly. Interior rearview mirror assembly 610 ismounted to a mounting button or element adhered to or affixed to aninterior surface of the vehicle windshield 611, with a tinted area 611 aof the windshield at an area proximate the mirror assembly, such as atinted area that has a darkened fit (such as a black ceramic frit layeror the like) disposed thereat or established thereat, and with themounting button or element mounting the mirror assembly generally at thetinted area (such an area is sometimes termed a shade band area at theupper windshield area and may be executed by locally tinting/coloringthe PVB laminating interlayer used in laminated windshield constructionsand/or by adding a coating or layer locally to the innermost glasssurface of the windshield).

As can be seen with reference to FIGS. 33 and 34, display device 612 isdisposed at the rear casing of the mirror assembly and is operable toproject a mirror image of the display information toward the windshieldso that the display information is viewable in its proper orientationand format by the driver of the vehicle when viewing generally forwardlyand toward the mirror assembly. As shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, the displaydevice may display temperature data or information 613 or compassheading data or information, such as automatically or in response to auser input. Optionally, and as shown in FIG. 35, the display device 612may project or emit other information, such as, for example, videoimages 613 a, such as video images captured by a video camera of thevehicle, such as video images captured by a rearward viewing reverse aidcamera to assist the driver in maneuvering the vehicle in reverse (andwhich may be activated in response to the driver selecting the reversegear of the vehicle). Optionally, and as shown in FIG. 36, the displaydevice 612 may project or emit navigational information 613 b, such asdirection heading information or a selected route information or thelike, such as in response to a navigation system of the mirror assemblyor vehicle or the like. Optionally, the display device may display otherinformation, depending on the particular application of the mirror anddisplay system and the desired or appropriate information beingdisplayed to the driver of the vehicle by the display device.

Optionally, the windshield display mirror may incorporate an LCDelement, a LED element or a VFD display element or the like situated onthe forward side of the mirror (toward the windshield). The display isthus situated so as to allow the driver to see a reflection of thedisplay on the windshield and generally at the tinted area of thewindshield. To improve the contrast of the display, a dark tint can beadded to the windshield in the area where the reflection of the displayis to be viewed. Such a configuration is readily accommodated, sincemany vehicles already have a dark tint or shade-band or the like in thearea above and about the mirror assembly. Optionally, the tint may be asmoke-colored tint similar to that used for the privacy windows inlimousines, rather than blue tint or dots painted on the surface of theglass, but other tinting configurations may be implemented whileremaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Optionally, the interior mirror assembly may comprise an electro-opticor electrochromic mirror assembly and may include an electro-optic orelectrochromic reflective element. The electrochromic mirror element ofthe electrochromic mirror assembly may utilize the principles disclosedin commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,195,381;7,184,190; 6,690,268; 5,140,455; 5,151,816; 6,178,034; 6,154,306;6,002,544; 5,567,360; 5,525,264; 5,610,756; 5,406,414; 5,253,109;5,076,673; 5,073,012; 5,117,346; 5,724,187; 5,668,663; 5,910,854;5,142,407 and/or 4,712,879, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties, and/or as disclosed in the followingpublications: N. R. Lynam, “Electrochromic Automotive Day/NightMirrors”, SAE Technical Paper Series 870636 (1987); N. R. Lynam, “SmartWindows for Automobiles”, SAE Technical Paper Series 900419 (1990); N.R. Lynam and A. Agrawal, “Automotive Applications of ChromogenicMaterials”, Large Area Chromogenics: Materials and Devices forTransmittance Control, C. M. Lampert and C. G. Granquist, EDS., OpticalEngineering Press, Wash. (1990), which are all hereby incorporated byreference herein in their entireties. Optionally, the electrochromiccircuitry and/or a glare sensor (such as a rearward facing glare sensorthat receives light from rearward of the mirror assembly and vehiclethrough a port or opening along the casing and/or bezel portion and/orreflective element of the mirror assembly) and circuitry and/or anambient light sensor and circuitry may be provided on one or morecircuit boards of the mirror assembly.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include one or more displays, suchas the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,240 and/or 6,329,925,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties,and/or display-on-demand transflective type displays, such as the typesdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,338,177; 7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,195,381;7,184,190; 5,668,663; 5,724,187 and/or 6,690,268, and/or in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/520,193, filed Sep. 13, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No.7,581,859; Ser. No. 12/091,525, filed Apr. 25, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No.7,855,755; Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005, and published Mar.23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US 2006/0061008; Ser. No. 10/538,724,filed Jun. 13, 2005, and published Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Publication No.US 2006/0050018; and/or Ser. No. 11/912,576, filed Oct. 25, 2007, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,626,749, which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties, so that the displays are viewable throughthe reflective element, while the display area still functions tosubstantially reflect light, in order to provide a generally uniformprismatic reflective element even in the areas that have displayelements positioned behind the reflective element. The thicknesses andmaterials of the coatings on the substrates, such as on the thirdsurface of the reflective element assembly, may be selected to provide adesired color or tint to the mirror reflective element, such as a bluecolored reflector, such as is known in the art and such as described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,910,854; 6,420,036; and/or 7,274,501, which are allhereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the interior rearview mirror assembly may comprise aprismatic mirror assembly or a non-electro-optic mirror assembly or anelectro-optic or electrochromic mirror assembly. For example, theinterior rearview mirror assembly may comprise a prismatic mirrorassembly, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,289,037;7,249,860; 6,318,870; 6,598,980; 5,327,288; 4,948,242; 4,826,289;4,436,371; and 4,435,042, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. Optionally, the prismatic reflectiveelement may comprise a conventional prismatic reflective element orprism or may comprise a prismatic reflective element of the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,420,756; 7,274,501; 7,249,860; 7,289,037;7,338,177; and/or 7,255,451, which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties, without affecting the scope of thepresent invention. A variety of mirror accessories and constructions areknown in the art, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,555,136;5,582,383; 5,680,263; 5,984,482; 6,227,675; 6,229,319; and 6,315,421(the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by referenceherein), that can benefit from the present invention.

Optionally, the display and any associated user inputs may be associatedwith various accessories or systems, such as, for example, a tirepressure monitoring system or a passenger air bag status or a garagedoor opening system or a telematics system or any other accessory orsystem of the mirror assembly or of the vehicle or of an accessorymodule or console of the vehicle, such as an accessory module or consoleof the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,289,037; 6,877,888;6,824,281; 6,690,268; 6,672,744; 6,386,742; and 6,124,886, and/or U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 andpublished Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0050018, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The video display may be operable to display images captured by one ormore imaging sensors or cameras at the vehicle. The imaging device andcontrol and image processor and any associated illumination source, ifapplicable, may comprise any suitable components, and may utilizeaspects of the cameras and vision systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,550,677; 5,877,897; 6,498,620; 5,670,935; 5,796,094; 6,396,397;6,806,452; 6,690,268; 7,005,974; 7,123,168; 7,004,606; 6,946,978;7,038,577; 6,353,392; 6,320,176; 6,313,454; and 6,824,281, which are allhereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The cameraor camera module may comprise any suitable camera or imaging sensor, andmay utilize aspects of the cameras or sensors described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/091,359, filed Apr. 24, 2008 (Attorney DocketMAG04 P-1299); and/or Ser. No. 10/534,632, filed May 11, 2005 andpublished Aug. 3, 2006 as U.S. Patent Publication No. US-2006-0171704A1,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,965,336; and/or U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,149, which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The imagingarray sensor may comprise any suitable sensor, and may utilize variousimaging sensors or imaging array sensors or cameras or the like, such asa CMOS imaging array sensor, a CCD sensor or other sensors or the like,such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,670,935;5,760,962; 5,715,093; 5,877,897; 6,922,292; 6,757,109; 6,717,610;6,590,719; 6,201,642; 6,498,620; 5,796,094; 6,097,023; 6,320,176;6,559,435; 6,831,261; 6,806,452; 6,396,397; 6,822,563; 6,946,978;7,339,149; 7,038,577; and 7,004,606; and/or U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/315,675, filed Dec. 22, 2005 and published Aug. 17, 2006 as U.S.Patent Publication No. US-2006-0184297A1, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,580;and/or Ser. No. 10/534,632, filed May 11, 2005 and published Aug. 3,2006 as U.S. Patent Publication No. US-2006-0171704A1, now U.S. Pat. No.7,965,336, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2008/076022, filed Sep. 11,2008, published Mar. 19, 2009 as International Publication No. WO2009/036176, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2008/078700, filed Oct. 3,2008, published on Apr. 9, 2009 as International Publication No. WO2009/046268, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

The camera module and circuit chip or board and imaging sensor of thepresent invention may be implemented and operated in connection withvarious vehicular vision-based systems, and/or may be operable utilizingthe principles of such other vehicular systems, such as a vehicleheadlamp control system, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,796,094; 6,097,023; 6,320,176; 6,559,435; 6,831,261; 7,004,606; and7,339,149, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/105,757, filed Apr.14, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,526,103, which are all hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties, a rain sensor, such as thetypes disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,353,392;6,313,454; 6,320,176; and/or 7,480,149, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties, a vehicle vision system, suchas a forwardly, sidewardly or rearwardly directed vehicle vision systemutilizing principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,670,935;5,760,962; 5,877,897; 5,949,331; 6,222,447; 6,302,545; 6,396,397;6,498,620; 6,523,964; 6,611,202; 6,201,642; 6,690,268; 6,717,610;6,757,109; 6,802,617; 6,806,452; 6,822,563; 6,891,563; and 6,946,978,and/or in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/643,602, filed Aug. 19,2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,859,565, which are all hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties, a trailer hitching aid or towcheck system, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,974,which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, areverse or sideward imaging system, such as for a lane change assistancesystem or lane departure warning system or for a blind spot or objectdetection system, such as imaging or detection systems of the typesdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,038,577; 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772,and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/239,980, filed Sep. 30, 2005,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,881,496; and/or Ser. No. 11/315,675, filed Dec. 22,2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,580, and/or U.S. provisional applicationSer. No. 60/618,686, filed Oct. 14, 2004, which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties, a video device for internalcabin surveillance and/or video telephone function, such as disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962; 5,877,897; 6,690,268; and/or 7,370,983, and/orU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 andpublished Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0050018, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, atraffic sign recognition system, a system for determining a distance toa leading or trailing vehicle or object, such as a system utilizing theprinciples disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396,397 and/or 7,123,168, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, and/orthe like.

Optionally, the circuit board or chip may include circuitry for theimaging array sensor and or other electronic accessories or features,such as by utilizing compass-on-a-chip or EC driver-on-a-chip technologyand aspects such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451 and/or U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/201,661, filed Aug. 11, 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,480,149; and/or Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005, andpublished on Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US 2006/0061008,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

1. An interior rearview mirror system of a vehicle, said interiorrearview mirror system comprising: an interior rearview mirror assemblyhaving a reflective element, wherein said reflective element comprises afront substrate and a rear substrate and an electro-optic mediumdisposed between said front substrate and said rear substrate andbounded by a perimeter seal; wherein said front substrate has a firstsurface that generally faces a driver of the vehicle when said interiorrearview mirror assembly is normally mounted at the vehicle, and whereinsaid front substrate has a second surface opposite said first surface;wherein said second surface of said front substrate has a transparentconductive coating established thereat; wherein said rear substrate hasa third surface that contacts said electro-optic medium and a fourthsurface opposite said third surface, and wherein said third surface ofsaid rear substrate has a metallic minor reflector established thereat;wherein the surface area of said first surface is larger than thesurface area of said third surface and wherein no part of said rearsubstrate extends beyond any part of said front substrate to be viewableby a viewer viewing said first surface of said front substrate; whereinsaid reflective element comprises (i) an electro-optic active regionwhere said electrochromic medium is disposed and is bounded by saidperimeter seal and (ii) a user input region outboard of saidelectro-optic active region; wherein a hiding band is disposed at saidsecond surface of said front substrate and at a location that generallycorresponds to said perimeter seal when said front and rear substratesare mated together, and wherein said hiding band substantially hidessaid perimeter seal from view by a viewer viewing said first surface ofsaid front substrate; at least one backlit user input disposed at saidreflective element at said user input region and outboard of saidperimeter seal and said electro-optic medium, wherein said at least onebacklit user input comprises a capacitive touch sensor; and a control,wherein said control is operable to determine a location of a touch orproximity of a finger of a user that is at or near said first surface ofsaid front substrate at said user input region, and wherein said controlgenerates an output signal indicative of a determined touch or proximityof a finger of a user.
 2. The interior rearview mirror system of claim1, wherein an isolation line is established at said second surface ofsaid front substrate to electrically isolate a first portion of saidtransparent conductive coating that is at said user input region andoutboard of said perimeter seal and said electro-optic medium from asecond portion of said transparent conductive coating that is at saidelectro-optic active region and in contact with said electro-opticmedium.
 3. The interior rearview mirror system of claim 2, wherein saidperimeter seal covers said isolation line.
 4. The interior rearviewmirror system of claim 1, comprising a display device comprising adisplay representative of a plurality of individual alphanumeric inputcharacters, wherein said plurality of individual alphanumeric inputcharacters of said display device is backlit by a backlighting device,and wherein said display device is backlit by said backlighting deviceresponsive to at least one of (i) a user input, (ii) a signal indicativeof an initial ignition-on condition, (iii) the vehicle ignition on andthe vehicle not in motion, and (iv) the vehicle ignition on and thevehicle engine not running, and wherein said backlighting device isdeactivated in response to at least one of (a) a period of time elapsingfollowing the activation of said backlighting device, (b) a period oftime elapsing following detection of a touch or proximity of an objectat said reflective element, and (c) movement of the vehicle, and whereinsaid interior rearview mirror assembly includes an indicator responsiveto a detection of an object rearward of the vehicle and responsive to atleast one of a distance to the detected object and a location of thedetected object, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assemblyincludes a microphone, and wherein said mirror system provides arecording function at said mirror assembly and wherein an operator canselectively activate and control a record and playback device of saidinterior rearview mirror assembly.